The BJP delegation, led by party state Chief Kummanam Rajasekharan, informed Singh that the hill station "may witness Uttarakhand-like disaster" if encroachments and illegal construction on the fragile land were not stopped.

They alleged that the encroachments were done with complete support of local MLAs, MPs and politicians from both ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and opposition UDF, headed by the Congress.

They said they met Singh as he is handling the National Disaster Management Authority.

The BJP leaders said the Home Minister assured them of necessary steps to deal with the situation.

Singh was in Kochi to attend the P Parameswaran Navati Celebrations, organised by Bharathiya Vichara Kendram, a Sangh outfit.

KeralaChief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hassaid that the government would bring in restrictions on building tourist resorts in Munnar and take stringent action against encroachments. PTI TGB APR KIS

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

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